UNDATED (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and a few team owners and executives met with civil rights leaders who urged the league to make drastic changes to its hiring practices to improve diversity in leadership positions.
Goodell was joined on the video call by Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II, Atlanta Falcons owner and chairman Arthur Blank, Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwell, Baltimore Ravens executive vice president Ozzie Newsome, Houston Texans limited partner Javier Loya and other top NFL executives.
National Urban League president and CEO Marc H. Morial told the group the NFL’s focus on racial equity and social justice recently hasn’t yet resulted in improved hiring procedures for the league’s head coaches.
In other NFL news:
— New Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Pederson announced his full staff Thursday. It’s a staff filled with NFL experience. Press Taylor will be offensive coordinator and Mike Caldwell defensive coordinator. Heath Farwell will be special teams coordinator. Mike McCoy will serve as quarterbacks coach. And Jim Bob Cooter will be passing game coordinator.
— The Denver Broncos have plucked three assistants from the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams’ coaching staff, including secondary coach Ejiro Evero, who will serve as Denver’s defensive coordinator. New head coach Nathaniel Hackett also announced the additions of Dwayne Stukes as his special teams coordinator and Marcus Dixon as defensive line coach.
— The Carolina Panthers have agreed to a two-year contract extension with backup linebacker Frankie Luvu. The 25-year-old Luvu was a key player on special teams for the Panthers last season. The Panthers also re-signed veteran long snapper J.J. Jansen, the team’s longest-tenured player.
— Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Chris Lammons become the fourth suspect arrested in connection with an assault at a Las Vegas nightclub that prompted the Feb. 6 arrest of New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara. Lammons turned himself in Thursday in Las Vegas and was briefly booked into the Clark County Detention Center on suspicion of felony battery resulting in substantial bodily harm and conspiracy to commit battery.
